Apple is preparing to introduce an "Extensions" framework in iOS 27 that will allow users to choose which AI model powers Apple Intelligence across the entire iPhone — selecting between Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, OpenAI ChatGPT, or other third-party providers, rather than being limited to Apple's own foundation models.³⁴ The feature is expected to be unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on 8 June 2026 and ship with iOS 27 in the autumn.³⁵

The move would represent a significant shift in how Apple controls the AI experience on its devices. Since iOS 18.2 in December 2024, OpenAI's ChatGPT has been the only third-party AI model integrated into Apple Intelligence, accessed via a bespoke partnership arrangement.³ Extensions would open that integration to any qualifying provider, transforming what is currently a privileged bilateral deal into a competitive marketplace of AI models accessible directly from Settings.⁵⁷

How Extensions will work

Under the reported design, AI providers would add Extensions support to their existing App Store apps.¹² A user would then open Settings, navigate to Apple Intelligence preferences, and select their preferred model as the system-wide default. Once set, that choice routes requests from Siri, Writing Tools, and Image Playground to the selected third-party model rather than Apple's own.³⁶ The integration is described as system-wide — meaning the same model choice applies uniformly across Apple's first-party features, not just in an individual app.

The framework would also allow custom voices in Siri depending on which external model is responding, according to reports.³ This suggests a level of integration deeper than simply routing queries — the AI provider would have the ability to shape the personality and presentation of responses within the native Siri interface.²⁷

Which models are being tested

Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude are already being tested internally by Apple engineers, according to reports from early May 2026.³¹ OpenAI's ChatGPT, the existing partner, would move from a special-case bilateral agreement into one option among many competitors — a significant change in its commercial relationship with Apple.⁴⁷

The Extensions framework is separate from Apple's January 2026 deal with Google to use a custom 1.2-trillion-parameter Gemini model as the underlying engine for the next-generation Siri.³ That deal involves a specific model tailored to Apple's backend infrastructure and is not the same as Gemini appearing as a user-selectable option in Extensions.⁶

What this means for the AI market

The iPhone has over one billion active users globally. Giving those users a first-class, settings-level choice of AI provider would make Apple's platform one of the most significant distribution channels in the AI industry — comparable in potential impact to Google's default search agreements, which have historically been the subject of major antitrust scrutiny.⁵⁸

For AI companies, being a first-party Extensions option on iOS would be extraordinarily valuable. Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI are all competing aggressively for consumer mindshare, and appearing natively in Settings — rather than requiring users to download a separate app and switch contexts — would dramatically lower the friction of daily AI use.¹⁴ Providers that are not included, or fail to meet Apple's technical and privacy requirements for Extensions, would face a significant disadvantage in reaching iOS users.⁷

WWDC and the road to release

Apple's WWDC keynote on 8 June 2026 is expected to be one of the most AI-focused in the conference's history, with Extensions likely to be a centrepiece announcement alongside other AI features in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.³⁵ Consumer availability is expected in the autumn alongside the release of new iPhone hardware.

It is not yet confirmed that Extensions will be announced at WWDC — reports are based on internal sources and the feature could be delayed or changed before the keynote.²⁶ However, the breadth and consistency of the reporting from multiple outlets in early May suggests the framework is well advanced in development.¹³

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iOS 27 Will Let You Replace ChatGPT With Gemini or Claude Across the Entire iPhone — Expected at WWDC on 8 June